Effect of Reminiscence on the Happiness the Retired Elderly Members of the Islamic Republic of Iran Army

The aging process is associated with physical, psychological, and social changes, causing the elderly to lose happiness. Since reduced happiness is a consequence of old age, the present study aimed to assess the effect of reminiscence on the happiness of the retired elderly.

This quasi-experimental study was conducted in the winter of 2018 on 90 retired men aged more than 60 years, who were selected via convenience sampling and randomly allocated to the intervention and control groups. Reminiscence was performed for six sessions twice per week on the intervention group at the Military Board of the Retired Members in Zahedan, Iran. Data were collected using a demographic questionnaire and Oxford happiness questionnaire. Data analysis was performed in SPSS version 21 using descriptive and inferential statistics.

The mean score of happiness in the elderly in the intervention group increased from 48.82±3.51 before the intervention to 56.51±6.14 after the intervention. In the control group, the score changed from 47.66±6.99 before the intervention to 49.68±7.96 after the intervention. Therefore, a significant difference was observed in the mean score of happiness after the intervention between the intervention and control groups (P=0.001).

According to the results, group reminiscence could promote happiness in the elderly. Considering that reminiscence is an appealing, simple, and inexpensive intervention, it could be used to reduce anxiety in the elderly and foster a joyful atmosphere in geriatric healthcare centers.